[Melaphant]

In bipolar how does stress fit in? I know moods can come and go despite what you think you should feel. But, can stress precursor a mood shift?

My doctor said that heart patients have a stress test, run on the tread mill etc. Then he said people with bipolar have life as a stress test. I know that after I cope with a huge stress my moods get unstable for a while.

[Moose72]

Stress definitely isnt good to my moods! It can flip either way.

[Eaglescout787]

From what i have experienced in my hypomanic phase stress doesn't really exist feeling wise but you know its there kind of like a thought you can never pay attention to long enough to worry about. Its different for everyone and how they i address stress.

Stress definitely affects me. Sometimes I dont even notice I am getting stressed, but then symptoms will flare up and I realise I need to change something. Very annoying as sometimes it doesnt take much.

[roads]

Good question, Melaphant, and welcome to PsychCentral.
I think stress increases my confusion and diminishes self-awareness. Because I'm less aware, I'm more vulnerable to my triggers--they overwhelm me before I see them coming.
Especially when I'm depressed, I find concentration and decision-making difficult. Add stress and I have great difficulty (& anxiety) focusing, prioritizing, choosing. I am sidetracted (often subconsciously) by the stress, and thinking becomes plodding, scary.
Roadie

[Trippin2.0]

I have sadly or wisely learned that I am now allergic to stress.

The woman who used to juggle 20 000 things, and laugh at how easily she handles it while giving life the middle finger is no more and I'm adjusting my lifestyle accordingly...

I actually get physically ill as well, not just the mental BS.

Stress unravels me, that's the simplest way for me to explain it...


I know I'm strange but what are you?
Sent using Tapatalk 2

[A Red Panda]

Yeah I can't really handle stress. I can handle stress if it's in like.. one area of my life. Sometimes.

But I definitely sorta implode when I get stressed out. I can still function if you look at it from the outside.... like I still get my work done and everything. But it's minimal and it's inside that I'm NOT GOOD. And any tiny little thing will set me right back off again.

((Like right now. My houseguest just woke up mega early so yet again... I get zero time awake in my flat without his presence!!))

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by A Red Panda

Yeah I can't really handle stress. .....
((Like right now. My houseguest just woke up mega early so yet again... I get zero time awake in my flat without his presence!!))

That was my grandma. She would get up before everybody and have her time alone in the kitchen listening to the radio and having her coffee. As kids, we used to mess that routine up quite a bit.

[A Red Panda]

Originally Posted by Moose72

That was my grandma. She would get up before everybody and have her time alone in the kitchen listening to the radio and having her coffee. As kids, we used to mess that routine up quite a bit.

If that was intentional, I would have slaughtered you if I was your grandma!

My parents and I are all like that. My mom needs her coffee and smoke before communicating with people. My dad just wakes up really early and usually goes outside. I need total alone-time for the washroom in the morning and need to NOT have anyone interupt whatever my routine is. I basically need to be left alone until I'm dressed.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by A Red Panda

If that was intentional, I would have slaughtered you if I was your grandma!

My parents and I are all like that. My mom needs her coffee and smoke before communicating with people. My dad just wakes up really early and usually goes outside. I need total alone-time for the washroom in the morning and need to NOT have anyone interupt whatever my routine is. I basically need to be left alone until I'm dressed.

Well we didn't do it to ruin Grandma's day! We just were early risers, too. We'd get out the cereal and eat at the table next to her. Now that you mention it, she probably had to have her smoke, too, as she was a smoker until the end. We only saw her once a year for a few weeks, maybe twice if we were lucky as they lived in this great big house in Canada on the West coast.

[A Red Panda]

Unintentional is a-ok especially with kids

[Moose72]

Yes. I did the same with my other grandpa (other side of the family). He'd be up very early having coffee and reading the paper and I'd go sit with him and eat Capn Crunch.

Originally Posted by Roadie

Good question, Melaphant, and welcome to PsychCentral.
I think stress increases my confusion and diminishes self-awareness. Because I'm less aware, I'm more vulnerable to my triggers--they overwhelm me before I see them coming.
Especially when I'm depressed, I find concentration and decision-making difficult. Add stress and I have great difficulty (& anxiety) focusing, prioritizing, choosing. I am sidetracted (often subconsciously) by the stress, and thinking becomes plodding, scary.
Roadie

Roadie, this is exactly what's been going on with me lately. Glad I'm not the only one.

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by newgal2

Roadie, this is exactly what's been going on with me lately. Glad I'm not the only one.

You are not, newgal2. I can so relate!